For the 12th year in a row, CityBeat is hosting the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, recognizing local theater artists and productions. It's happening Sunday night in a new venue — Below Zero (1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine) — and you're invited to show up at 7 p.m. for the free event, which includes things to eat from nearby Lavomatic Cafe and piano cabaret entertainment by Terry LaBolt. Two rounds of awards will be announced: At 8 p.m., you can hear the results of public voting for categories involving actors in plays and musicals in addition to the year's outstanding community theater production. Following a break, around 9 p.m. the "critical achievement" awards will be made public — these are for technical categories and for the year's outstanding alternative production, premiere, play and musical.
Some pertinent facts: Almost 3,000 people voted for the public categories, the most ever cast for the CEAs. That's even more impressive because this year, for the first time, all the voting was online. That's a great indicator that a lot of people care about our local theater scene. They had more to choose from, too, since almost every category was expanded from four to five nominees — resulting in almost 100 options. The truth is that every nominee was noteworthy — that's the point, regardless of which one receives the award. Consider this a barometer of great theater.
Sunday evening is also a chance to honor Bill Hartnett and Ellie Shepherd, recipients of this year's award for continuing achievement from the League of Cincinnati Theatres. They'll be inducted into the CEA Hall of Fame on Sunday evening. If you'd like to read more about them, see the feature I wrote in this week's issue of CityBeat.
One more fact to get you to show up on Sunday evening: This might be your last chance to see Terry LaBolt at the keyboard for a while. He's headed off to Bloomington, Ind., where he'll be the musical director for the musical theater program at Indiana University. LaBolt, back to decent health after a kidney transplant, has been around for years — at CCM and with many theater companies as accompanist and music director. He's excited about his new gig. And this is not a total farewell, since it seems likely he'll make periodic treks back in our direction. But for now, we're extremely grateful to have him as part of the 2008 CEA show.
See you on Sunday evening!
— Rick Pender